Zuckerberg, Who Sacked Workers Over Metaverse, Netted $123.1 Billion in a Single Day

According to Forbes, Meta founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s fortune increased by $23.6 billion (R$123.1 billion) in a single day, following Meta’s strong financial performance. On January 29, 2026, Meta’s stock rose by over 10%, with per-share profits reaching $8.88, exceeding expectations of $8.19. Revenue reached $59.89 billion, a 24% increase compared to the same period in 2024. This growth was primarily driven by Meta’s forecast for the first quarter of 2026, projecting revenue between $53.5 billion and $56.5 billion, surpassing analysts’ estimates of $51.27 billion to $51.41 billion and representing a potential annual increase of 30%.

Mark Zuckerberg’s Early Beginnings and Rise to Fortune Through Facebook and Meta

Born on May 14, 1984, in White Plains, New York, Mark Zuckerberg grew up in Dobbs Ferry. He demonstrated an aptitude for programming early in life, creating Zucknet, a messaging system for his father’s dental clinic, at age 12. He attended Ardsley High School and later Phillips Exeter Academy, where he excelled in mathematics, astronomy, physics, and classical languages. In 2002, he enrolled at Harvard University to study psychology and computer science. During his sophomore year, Zuckerberg launched Facemash, which was shut down after two days. On February 4, 2004, he launched Thefacebook with fellow Harvard students. Within a day, approximately 1,200 students had registered on the platform. This success prompted Zuckerberg to relocate to Palo Alto, California, in June 2004, supported by an initial investment of $500 million from Peter Thiel. He dropped out of Harvard that year. Facebook became available to the general public in 2006 and went public in 2012, rebranding as Meta Platforms in 2021. Zuckerberg’s substantial gain reflects the market’s positive response to Meta’s recent performance and future outlook.

In Case You Missed It

In case you missed it, we’ve got a trio of intriguing reads waiting for you. Kickstart your day with Sophie Laurent’s captivating exploration into Disney+’s upcoming Star Wars series, The Acolyte. Published February 2nd, her article “Star Wars: The Acolyte Returns with a New Perspective on the High Republic Era” offers an exclusive sneak peek into the conceptual art that brought this exciting new era to life, from initial sketches of planets like Ueda to the evolution of characters Mae and Osha. Be sure to dive in before its release on February 3rd here: Star Wars: The Acolyte Returns with a New Perspective on the High Republic Era. Meanwhile, Marcus Thompson is championing a victory against digital content theft with his piece “Manga Piracy Takes Severe Hit”, published on January 30th. He unveils the Japanese Association for Overseas Content Distribution’s successful operation with Chinese authorities to dismantle one of the world’s largest manga piracy platforms, taking over 60 sites offline and apprehending the mastermind behind them. Check out his comprehensive coverage here: Manga Piracy Takes Severe Hit. And if you’re craving more sartorial drama, Jonathan Dubinski has just served up a hot scoop on “The Devil Wears Prada 2” (2026) with the release of its first trailer. Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, and Emily Blunt are back, and they’re joined by an impressive ensemble including Kenneth Branagh, Simone Ashley, Justin Theroux, Lucy Liu, and more. Start your fashion countdown now as you watch the trailer here: First Trailer for The Devil Wears Prada 2 Released.